Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace: Which Is Right for Your Team?

The choice between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace isn't just about features; it's about finding the right fit for your team's work style, technical requirements, and growth trajectory. Both platforms offer comprehensive productivity suites, but they take fundamentally different approaches to collaboration, security, and enterprise management.

Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace at a glance

Here's how these productivity powerhouses stack up across the most important criteria for IT decision makers.

Overview of Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is an integrated productivity and collaboration suite that combines traditional Office applications with modern cloud services and enterprise-grade security. The platform serves as a unified ecosystem covering productivity, communication, collaboration, and device management for organizations of all sizes.

‍

Microsoft 365 provides both desktop and web versions of core applications, ensuring consistent functionality across Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. The platform's strength lies in its comprehensive approach, combining familiar productivity tools with advanced security, compliance, and administrative capabilities that scale from small businesses to global enterprises.

Key Features:

• Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) with desktop and web versions, plus Access as a Windows desktop app on select Microsoft 365 plans.
• Microsoft Teams for video conferencing and team collaboration.
• OneDrive for Business with 1 TB cloud storage per user.
• SharePoint for enterprise content management and intranet capabilities.
• Microsoft Defender suite for advanced threat protection.
• Microsoft Purview for data loss prevention and compliance management.
• Microsoft Intune for device and application management.
• Power Platform for custom business application development.

‍

Ideal for: Organizations requiring advanced desktop application features, complex compliance requirements, or deep integration with existing Microsoft infrastructure investments.

Overview of Google Workspace

Google Workspace is a cloud-native productivity and collaboration platform designed around real-time collaboration and simplified administration. Built from the ground up as a browser-based solution, it emphasizes seamless teamwork, intuitive user experience, and streamlined IT management.

The platform's architecture prioritizes collaboration over individual productivity, with all applications designed for simultaneous multi-user editing and instant synchronization. Google Workspace excels in environments where teams need to work together dynamically across documents, presentations, and spreadsheets without the complexity of traditional desktop software.

Key Features:

• Complete productivity suite (Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Calendar) with real-time collaboration.
• Google Meet for video conferencing with up to 1,000 participants (Enterprise tier).
• Drive cloud storage with tiered capacity (30 GB to 5 TB based on plan).
• Google Chat for team messaging and project spaces.
• Admin Console for centralized user and security management.
• Endpoint Management for device control across all platforms at no additional cost.
• Google Vault for eDiscovery and compliance (Business Plus and above).
• Gemini AI integration across all applications (additional $30/user/month).

Ideal for: Fast-growing teams prioritizing real-time collaboration, organizations seeking simplified IT administration, and companies requiring rapid deployment with minimal training overhead.

Side-by-Side Feature Comparison

When to Choose Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace

Your choice should align with your organization's work patterns, technical requirements, and strategic priorities.

Choose Microsoft 365 if you need:

• Advanced desktop application features (complex Excel macros, Access databases, Publisher layouts).
• Robust offline functionality for field workers or unreliable connectivity environments.
• Deep integration with existing Microsoft infrastructure (Active Directory, SharePoint, Exchange).
• Granular security controls and extensive compliance certifications for regulated industries.
• Unified endpoint management with Windows-first device strategies.
• Advanced AI capabilities through Copilot for complex automation and data analysis.

Choose Google Workspace if you value:

• Real-time collaboration as the primary work mode with instant document sharing.
• Simplified IT administration and rapid deployment timelines (90 days vs. 6 months).
• Cost efficiency at enterprise scale (38% savings vs. Microsoft 365 E5 for 5,000+ users).
• Email security leadership with advanced phishing protection.
• Cloud-first architecture with consistent cross-platform experience.
• Open integration flexibility with existing SaaS ecosystems and third-party security tools.

Both platforms serve enterprises effectively, but your specific organizational context determines the optimal fit.

How Siit Integrates With Both Tools

Siit enhances both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace environments by automating cross-departmental workflows that neither platform handles natively. Whether your team uses Teams or Slack, Siit's AI agents execute complete business processes across IT, HR, Finance, and Operations.

For Microsoft 365 environments, Siit integrates natively with Microsoft Teams to route approval workflows, handle service requests, and manage employee lifecycle processes directly where your team already works. Siit also connects with Microsoft Intune for device management visibility and automated provisioning workflows.

For Google Workspace organizations, Siit syncs employee data and directory information to power automated onboarding, offboarding, and access request workflows. This integration ensures your team's information stays accurate across systems without manual data entry.

The real power comes from Siit's ability to orchestrate processes that span your productivity platform and operational systems—automatically pulling employee data from your HRIS, coordinating approvals through your chosen communication tool, provisioning access in identity management systems, and creating audit trails across all connected services.

Sign up for Siit today and see how AI agents can transform your internal operations, regardless of whether your team runs on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace.